Consumed around the world as a nutritious, protein-rich dried bean, The Broad Windsor Fava Bean is also tasty as a shell bean. This cold hardy bush-type plant grows to 3'-4' with unusual black and white blossoms. The huge beans have a creamy, nutty flavor, and the leaves can be eaten fresh or cooked. High yields make this nitrogen fixer a multi-tasker in the fall and winter gardens of all grow zones.

• Easy to grow
• Cold hardy to 20 degrees
• Nitrogen fixer
• Great for winter gardens
• High germination rate 
• High yield of broad shell beans
• Plant height ranges from 3 to 4 feet, suitable for various garden sizes
• Early maturing, typically ready for harvest within 80-100 days
• Cold hardy, vigorous growth in temperate climates
• Low maintenance with natural disease resistance

Use Cases & Ideal For: The Broad Windsor fava bean seeds are ideal for organic vegetable gardeners, small farmers, and commercial producers targeting high-protein, nutritious vegetables. They are well-suited for soil enrichment through crop rotation, cover cropping, and direct planting in spring or fall. These seeds are perfect for growers seeking budget-friendly, heirloom seeds that deliver reliable yields for fresh consumption, freezing, or culinary processing.

MORE SEED PLANTING TIPS

• Botanical name: Vicia faba
• Depth to plant seeds: 2" deep
• Spacing between plants: 4"-6" apart
• Spacing between rows: 18"-24" apart
• Days to germinate (sprout): 10-14 days
• Germination soil temps: 50F-65F
• Soil needs: 6.0-7.0 pH
• Sun needs: Full sun
• Frost hardy: Yes
• Planting season: Spring, fall, winter
• # of plants per sq. ft.: Appx. 2-4 plants per sq. ft.
• Days to maturity: 75-80 days when spring sown, 180 days when fall sown

Click here to view our full Bean grow guide.

Good companion plants: Cabbage, Carrot, Lettuce, Parsley, Rosemary

Shop more:  
BUSH BEANS
FAVA & BROAD BEANS
LIMA BEANS
POLE BEANS